Reviews

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga

Even though the bulk of the content is taken from the previous games, there are some notable new features. Both the number of power-up items and characters has been increased. There are now a whopping 126 total characters, even though many of them are similar (such as multiple forms of Luke Skywalker). Speaking of hidden characters, be sure to watch the trailer for the upcoming LEGO Indiana Jones game. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the reward that you earn for doing so.

There are also three new stages: an Episode I stage where you fly a Naboo Starfighter during Anakin's attack on the Trade Federation Droid Control Ship, an Episode II chase against bounty hunter Zam Wesell, and a bonus stage called "New Town" that looks like a "normal" LEGO playset. New Town is rather similar to the "LEGO City" bonus stage from LEGO Star Wars II, which returns here as another unlockable.

One big problem in the original LEGO Star Wars was that the vehicle stages weren't quite as good as the platforming bits. To rectify that problem, developer Traveller's Tales has reworked both the pod race and Republic Gunship chapters. Both stages have been improved drastically, and are far more fun to play this time around. Completionists need not worry, though, as the original versions of the stages can be unlocked as well.

Always Two There Are

Perhaps the biggest addition to The Complete Saga is the ability to play with a friend online. The drop in/drop out two-player mode helped make the first two games hits with families, but it was always a shame that your buddy needed to be in the same room in order to play together. That is no longer the case, but the online game sometimes pauses to sync both players. This tended to happen when moving between rooms. It's a bit of a distraction, but nothing more.

Another distraction is the occasional screen tearing that seems to occur on some of the more graphically intensive stages (those with reflective floors, for example). This can become annoying, and it takes away from the otherwise terrific graphics. Thanks to the power of the Xbox 360, these "old" games look quite a bit better than their predecessors. The higher-resolution textures and authentic plastic sheen on the LEGO bricks adds a lot to the game. If you're sensitive to screen tearing you may find it to be an issue, but it doesn't happen enough for it to affect the overall quality.

Perhaps the best compliment that one can pay to LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga is that it feels like you're playing with a living LEGO playset. The ability to shatter LEGO Stormtroopers into their separate components or tear down a LEGO wall and build it into a bridge really narrows the gap between videogame and interactive toy. If you've somehow missed out on the first two games, then you definitely need to give this one a go. With both of the previous games and bonus content, it's a great value and it'll provide hours of entertainment. LSW veterans, however, might not want to dive in so soon, however, as you've played most of this game already.